Chardon School Board approves contract with teachers union

Chardon School Board unanimously approved a two-year contract with the Chardon Education Association at a meeting on Monday.
The final agreement was reached after six months of negotiations.
After the board vote, President David Fairbanks delivered a statement noting “in the end I believe the staff got a contract that was both fair and equitable.”
He said the board intends to concentrate its effort to keeping other promises that were made to the community last fall.
“In the coming weeks the board will review proposals to reinstate educational programs that will benefit students at every level beginning next school year,” he said.
Before a levy was approved in November, cuts were made to several programs including art and music.
Superintendent Michael P. Hanlon thanked voters for passing the levy and said it was because of the additional funds that the district “had something to work with” in the bargaining process.
CEA President Tammy Segulin expressed gratitude to the board for voting to approve the contract, adding “our teachers have been very patient.”
“I look forward to working with you under our new collective bargaining agreement,” she said.
Earlier this month CEA members voted yes on a tentative agreement the union and board reached Jan. 16.
After the approval the CEA released a statement which read, in part:
“Once again the membership of the Chardon Education Association has indicated their willingness to subsidize the district’s financial situation by agreeing to a modest increase of 0.75 percent on the base for the next two years. The increase on the base and reinstatement of steps and columns represents only 0.85 of the total operating budget of the Chardon Local School District.”
Fairbanks concluded his remarks by stating that “It is my sincere desire that the entire district, every administrator, teacher, staff member and student now be able to concentrate fully and without distraction on education — for that really is the reason we are all here.”